Not Quite a Turkey, But Delicious All The Same
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118347)
Gainesville, Florida
November 24, 2017 7:22am CST
After eating turkey all week at various potluck luncheons at work, I was not really looking forward to the Big Turkey Day on Thursday. Quite frankly, I was all turkeyed out!
My ex-wife and I, along with her husband and my girlfriend, decided to get together and do one big Thanksgiving celebration instead of doing two separate ones at each of our houses. That way, we saved the kids from having to go to different meals. Luckily, we both live pretty close by to each other.
We got to talking beforehand about what food to serve, as the ex and I were planning the shopping menu. Reluctantly, we were going to cook a turkey (I was going to deep-fry one), but she called me excitedly from the grocery store on Wednesday. She asked me if, instead of cooking a turkey, would I be interested in cooking a goose instead. I immediately told her to go for it, and that I was all for that plan! One, it would save me from a fourth day of eating turkey, and two, I've never had goose before!
So, although it was not a turkey, we still ate fowl for Thanksgiving dinner, and I have to admit the goose was absolutely delicious! Especially covered in plum sauce!
Did anyone else here in the US (or anyone else worldwide that celebrates Thanksgiving) make an alternative main course to turkey? I'd be curious to know what others made besides turkey!
25 people like this
25 responses
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 17
I can't believe I ate so much turkey leading up to the holiday! Thankfully, it's a lean meat, or I probably would have gained a lot of weight!
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (457217)
• Switzerland
25 Nov 17
@moffittjc Chicken is a lot better, turkey is not tender and it's too dry.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 17
@LadyDuck Turkey is very tender and juicy if you deep-fry it! (but then it's not as healthy since you cooked it in peanut oil). But I agree, I much prefer chicken over turkey!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 17
Although I do enjoy turkey, it's not a meat that I eat on a frequent basis. I much prefer chicken over turkey.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Nov 17
So even though neither of us had turkey for Thanksgiving, we both still had fowl to eat! haha
4 people like this
@snowy22315 (169532)
• United States
24 Nov 17
Wow, goose..that was adventurous! I have looked at them in the store before..they always cost significantly more than turkey so I haven't purchased one. I am curious to try a turducken though. I have made duck once or twice, but not on Thanksgiving!
4 people like this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 17
I have always been curious to try turducken as well. I'm pretty adventuresome when it comes to food. I'll try just about anything once!
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
24 Nov 17
We did not have turkey here either. Lol No one in our home eats it so we made home made burgers with rice and mac n cheese. It was delicious as well. =)
I'm glad you enjoyed the goose and didn't have to eat turkey again!
4 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
25 Nov 17
@moffittjc Yeah, my husband is such a good cook and they were delicious! =)
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Nov 17
@LovingMyBabies You are lucky to have a guy who is such a good cook!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 17
After all the turkey I had eaten leading up to Thanksgiving, homemade burgers would have been just the perfect thing to eat on the actually holiday! I love burgers, especially when they're homemade!
2 people like this
@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
24 Nov 17
First of all, it is great you and your ex get along so well, and it is great you and your girlfriend were able to enjoy the day with her and her hubby. @moffittjc , I have never eaten goose, we usually go for lamb, beef roast or chicken.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 17
It has been a long, long time since I've last eaten lamb! Now you've got me craving some!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Nov 17
@kobesbuddy It's kind of the same thing, but there is a little difference. Lamb is from a sheep that is 1-year old or younger, while mutton is from sheep that are older than 1-year, most often around 3 years old. Most sheep meet consumed in the US is lamb and not mutton.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
24 Nov 17
Never tried Goose before but glad that you enjoyed it and with plum sauce yum.
I don´t eat much meat really at the moment but we do eat other things like Cheesecake yum and another yum.
3 people like this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
25 Nov 17
@moffittjc
I nearly picked one up today but I was too far from home so I have put it off for the next time.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Nov 17
@lovinangelsinstead21 We keep talking about all this cheesecake, I'll have to go out and buy several of them! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 17
Cheesecake sounds delicious! I love eating cheesecake!
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
26 Nov 17
I like how you and your ex-wife is very civil
And having goose instead of turkey is quite interesting. I've never tried goose, I don't think, how was it prepared?
And having goose instead of turkey is quite interesting. I've never tried goose, I don't think, how was it prepared?2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
26 Nov 17
@moffittjc Very interesting . Could you tell the difference that it was goose?
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
27 Nov 17
@moffittjc Oh I see. I don't think I've tried goose... I'll have to ask my mom. :)
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Nov 17
@infatuatedbby Well, I've never had goose before, but yes, I could tell the difference. One, it was very fatty meat, which I totally didn't expect, and two, it almost looked more like beef than it did fowl.
2 people like this
@MALUSE (69416)
• Germany
25 Nov 17
@moffittjc Why? The tails must be enormous and enough for the main course. Tell us, please, how alligator tail is prepared.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Nov 17
@MALUSE I'm not sure why alligator tail is not eaten as a main course meat. Maybe it's expensive? Or maybe it's just too exotic for the majority of people to like? I'm not sure. Usually when it's prepared as an appetizer it is cut up into small pieces like chicken nuggets. The only way I have ever eaten it is fried, but I'm sure it can be cooked other ways as well.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 17
Yes, alligator tail is a popular meat, but not for a main course. It is mostly eaten as an appetizer.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Nov 17
I think turkey is the traditional Thanksgiving meat dish, dating back to when Europeans were first settling in North America. I'm sure that venison (deer meat) and maybe chicken were also served in those early days, but for some reason turkey just stuck as the meat of choice for the holiday. Sheep is not a popular meet choice here in the United States, and people eat beef, pork and chicken all year long, so maybe that's another reason turkey is a popular choice.
3 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
25 Nov 17
Its awesome you two get along. day 2 and I now hate turkey. I would love to try goose.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 17
I'm not a big fan of turkey, so it's not something I usually eat outside of the holiday. My daughter loves turkey, so I do buy turkey lunch meat to make her sandwiches for school.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
25 Nov 17
@moffittjc Turkey lunch meat? That is nasty 
but hey if she likes it .......
but hey if she likes it .......2 people like this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Nov 17
@andriaperry I get Boars Head out of the deli at the grocery store. I have them slice it up into thick slices. My daughter loves Boars Head.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
26 Nov 17
Nope, turkey here. I would have preferred turkey roll, no joke.
It's cool that your ex gets along that well
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Nov 17
Faye, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Did you do any Black Friday shopping?
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
4 Dec 17
@moffittjc Thanks! It was very nice. Ah, no - I stayed in on Friday. Do you do Black Friday?
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
4 Dec 17
@Marty1 You've inspired me. I'm putting one on my grocery list now :-)
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
24 Nov 17
I've never had goose before, but I would try it. I constantly see people fighting their ex's and causing stress for their children, so I think it's wonderful that you can make your children's life easier by getting along so well with your ex.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 17
Yeah, my ex and I are best friends! And her husband is a really awesome guy too, so it works out well for everyone!
2 people like this
@Dyvette16 (4301)
• United States
25 Nov 17
That is interesting but I would of been tired of turkey too eating it all week , we just had turkey on thanksgiving
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 17
Yeah, I certainly can get tired of turkey very quickly. I appreciate that it is a healthy meat to eat, but I would much prefer chicken or beef as my meats of choice.
3 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
25 Nov 17
not yet made ours. but that sounds wonderful. so way back style. I think our ancestors had goose and plum sauce for celebrations quite often from what I have read.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Nov 17
@bunnybon7 It was really, really good!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 17
I was actually surprised that I was able to find plum sauce at the store! When I read the recipe, I was thinking to myself that I was never going to find the sauce because it is so uncommon these days. But nope, the store had plenty of it, so I guess it's more popular than I thought! haha
2 people like this
@Srbageldog (7716)
• United States
25 Nov 17
I have never tried goose! We just had turkey...and I get to have turkey again tomorrow, as I celebrate a second Thanksgiving with my parents. I'm already feeling turkeyed out.
2 people like this
@Srbageldog (7716)
• United States
28 Nov 17
@moffittjc I was just telling someone that I like leftover turkey sandwiches better than eating turkey on Thanksgiving! It does taste better as leftovers.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Dec 17
@Srbageldog Definitely better as leftovers! Especially when making leftover sandwiches out of the meat!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 17
I actually like turkey better as leftovers than I do when it is served originally at Thanksgiving. Usually the next couple of days after the holiday are my favorite because I get to make awesome turkey sandwiches with the leftovers! Which is interesting, because throughout the rest of the year I'm not a huge fan of turkey!
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40037)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Nov 17
@moffittjc - That reminded me of the time we were visiting a daughter in Texas for Thanksgiving and, since she was young and single, she made us reservations at a popular steak house. The restaurant was offering a traditional turkey dinner, with all the side dishes. We all ordered steak, instead! It was wonderful!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Nov 17
If given the opportunity, I probably would have chosen a steak as well! A nice Filet Mignon! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Dec 17
@DeborahDiane Can we meet halfway between Texas and Maine and have a nice steak and lobster dinner? lol
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40037)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Nov 17
@moffittjc - Yes! It is hard for us to return to Texas for a visit (we lived there for 25 years), and not have a delicious steak. It would be like going to Maine and not having lobster! 
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
24 Nov 17
Nope, turkey and turkey only in our house.
2 people like this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
25 Nov 17
@moffittjc yes it was really good. We'll be making another in the next week.
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74408)
• East Tawas, Michigan
27 Nov 17
Sorry, we had the traditional Turkey dinner, with all the trimmings(minus the pumpkin pie) we had pecan pie instead. I love goose! I had it one time at my boyfriend's(back then)parent's house. It was roasted and not deep fried.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Nov 17
The goose we cooked was not deep-fried. I had mentioned that I was planning on deep-frying a turkey, but we went with goose instead. We cooked the legs/thighs in the crock pot, and roasted the rest of the goose in the oven.
And there's absolutely nothing wrong with a traditional turkey dinner!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Nov 17
@kobesbuddy Yes, it was greasy. I was very surprised at how fatty goose meat is.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74408)
• East Tawas, Michigan
27 Nov 17
@moffittjc Oh, I thought you deep fried a goose instead of a turkey. Baked goose is really delicious, but it's a little bit greasy.
1 person likes this
@YrNemo (20261)
•
24 Nov 17
I have to explain first, that I don't normally eat meat (but if the food prepared in a yummy way, I will swallow the plate too!). Glad to read your post here, for I simply don't care for turkey. We can leave it alone fine, but we do like the cranberry sauce, makes any sense to you? 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 17
Makes perfect sense! But I will have to tell you, I am not a fan of cranberry sauce at all! LOL
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118347)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Nov 17
@YrNemo I love dried cranberries! And just about anything cranberry flavored. But for some reason I don't like the cranberries served at most Thanksgiving dinners.
1 person likes this
@YrNemo (20261)
•
25 Nov 17
@moffittjc no? (very expensive stuff around here. My kids lovingly lick that sauce. I don't go for sweet generally so it is OK. How about dry cranberries? Can you tolerate that?)
1 person likes this
